MADRID – The government of Spain rejects the exclusion of King Felipe VI from the inauguration of the elected president of Mexico and communicates that it will not send any representative.
Through a statement sent to the media this Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation states that “the government of Spain considers unacceptable the exclusion of HM the King from the invitation to the inauguration of the elected president of Mexico.” , Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, next October 1 in Mexico City.
“For this reason, the government of Spain has decided not to participate in said takeover at any level,” adds the Foreign Affairs statement.
Traditionally, Felipe VI has attended the inaugurations of the presidents of Ibero-America. First, as Prince of Asturias and, later, as King. Although, on some occasions, representation has fallen to other senior officials of the State.
THE ORIGIN OF THE MEXICO-SPAIN DIFFERENDUM
Since his arrival to the Presidency in December 2018, Andrés Manuel López Obrador was very critical of Spain.
In March 2019, he sent a letter to King Felipe VI requesting that the Spanish State admit its historical responsibility for the offenses committed during the Conquest and offer appropriate apologies or political compensation.
The request received no response. López Obrador paused relations with Spain in 2022 for what he considered a lack of respect towards Mexico and its native peoples.
Months ago, after Claudia Sheinbaum’s victory, López Obrador said that the president-elect would be able to resume bilateral relations that had been put on hold.
Now that the changes are taking place, there is an opportunity with the president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who is a very intelligent woman, very respectful, very fraternal, and also knowledgeable about the history of Mexico and the world, said the still acting president in a conference in June.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for Sheinbaum’s inauguration, diplomatic notes were sent to all the countries with which Mexico has relations, except Ecuador and Peru.
With Ecuador, Mexico broke relations after the authorities burst into its Embassy in Quito. The relationship with Peru deteriorated after the arrival of Dina Boluarte to power.
The Mexican president considers that relations could be resumed when another government arrives in the country.
